Category Archives: News

Aljezur: The Heart Of Costa Vicentina

By Matt D’Arcy

After a four-year journey through the history and the landscape of Aljezur two gifted men, photographer and writer, have produced the most stunningly exquisite illustrated book about the area in which we live: “Aljezur; The Heart Of Costa Vicentina”.

Described as “the book of Aljezur” and presented as “an expression of love for our home”, the impressive publication was unveiled at a ceremony in the town’s civic HQ on Friday.

Now, at €50 plus IVA, nobody is going to pop into the town’s newsagent for their morning paper, and buy a copy as an afterthought.

But it is the kind of coffee-table conversation piece that many people, both the Portuguese locals and those who have chosen to move across Europe to make their home on the Algarve’s west coast, will be proud to own.

Indeed the writer does say with complete justification that the final production would not be out of place in the high-class bookshops of cities like New York.

It would certainly make an ideal birthday, Christmas or anniversary present for anyone keenly interested in the history and culture of this area.

It is an outstanding book, sumptuously photographed and beautifully written as it takes us on a breathtaking photographic journey (with the text accompanying the photographs presented both in Portuguese and in English) that enables the reader to see the history, traditions—and, yes, the beauty—of this area in a new light.

Whatever your political persuasion you will find yourself agreeing with Aljezur Mayor José Amarelinho when he calls it “an expression of love for our home” and says “this book was made for the people of Aljezur, put together in such a way that even those people who have been born here will discover things they never knew existed.”

The book originated from an initiative by the Lisbon Government encouraging councils in Portugal to be funded in order to create such a volume promoting their council area.

Amarelinho says: “This is the best one I have seen on a national scale,” and in the words of Mandy Rice-Davies, he would say that, of course.

The Book Of Aljezur

The Book Of Aljezur

But it’s hard to imagine any better productions across the length and breadth of Portugal.

This collaboration between the Camara and local marketing company 1000olhos, IS a work of art with the superb photographs of João Mariano and the compelling, beautifully-written descriptions of João Paulo Sacadura.

Photographer Mariano is from this area but he admits his four-year journey led to discoveries of places he himself did not know existed!

He told a specially-invited audience, which included Amovate secretary Ian Bedford and Press Officer Matt D’Arcy: “The team was made up of people from Aljezur for this project that took four years searching and discovering and photographing to put together.

“I was able to go to places that even surprised me, by walking, cycling, travelling by boat or by car.

“I found that there was so much to be discovered and so many surprises. I had so much help from the locals, from gastronomy and the preparation of dishes, to being taken by boat to places, to traditional bread making, to areas that I didn’t know existed, many of them historical areas that were brought to life for us by the stories from locals who had passed them down through the generations.”

João Paulo Sacadura, who says he writes with the old Portuguese spelling of many place names to heighten the authenticity of this journey through the region, admitted:

“At first I wasn’t sure about taking on this project, as I am not from the area. But then I realised it was probably good for an outsider to write about these places.

“I encountered and discovered many beautiful things and interesting people and with the use of the amazing photographs and the sheer numbers of them, there could be many more volumes.

“This book has been done so well that it could be sold anywhere—from the high class bookshops of New York—to all the foreigners who visit this area. The council have done a fantastic job in maintaining the image and wonderful secret that is Aljezur.”

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The Introduction to the book reads:

“The publication of this book is part of the numerous responsibilities bestowed on the town council; publication of works that interest and respect the history and identity of the municipality.

“In both the writing of João Paulo Sacadura and in the photography of João Mariano this work is a true journey around the council of Aljezur with its legends, history, heritage, ethnography, traditions, cuisine, biodiversity, fishing, farming, beaches, cliffs and our people.

“It succeeds in being disconcerting for the writer and he shows it! ‘On the one hand we should spread the word about Aljezur’s amazing landscape, share its wonderfulness, reveal the hidden enchantment; and on the other hand we feel like keeping it safe, guarding it, protecting it even more’.

“Either way we are opening another window of opportunity that shows we are different, able to reinvent ourselves by always asserting our identity, with a profound respect for our memory and by prospecting our future.

“The reality we show you is filled with the enchantment, romanticism, love and poetry that this land and its people enclose. A lot—and I mean a very lot—of what actually counts and distinguishes us is here.”

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The first image in the book shows an illuminated manuscript, the beautifully illustrated Aljezur Charter granted to the town more than 500 years ago by King D Manuel I on June 1st 1504.

The publishers say the book’s graphic designer, Bruno Fernandes, was inspired by this document, explaining: “Of an unquestionable historic

Aljezur Charter Granted June 1 1505

Aljezur Charter Granted June 1 1505

and aesthetic value, these elements have been given a modern touch”.

NOTE: Aljezur first obtained a foral (charter) from 12 November 1280, issued by King Denis of Portugal, in Estremoz. It was the first charter issued by the king in the Algarve. On 1 June 1504, King Manuel reformed the diplomatic map issued by King Denis, and promoted the town with the title Nobre e Honrada (Noble and Honoured)

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Some statistics contained in the book:
 
MUNICIPALITY OF ALJEZUR
 
Total area of the Council: 323sq km.
 
Coast: 58km.
 
Total perimeter: 136km.
 
Maximum altitude: 370 metres.
 
Population: 5,884 inhabitants (at census of 2011).
 
Boroughs: Odeceixe, Rogil, Aljezur, Bordeira.
 
Municipal Holiday: August 29.
 
Area of National Park in Aljezur Council:
 
Total area: 220.5sq km.
 
Total land area: 144sq km.
 
Close to half the council is covered by the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina National Park.
 

Why You Should Join Amovate

IMG_1012Amovate is seeking more new members—and this is why…

Vale da Telha will see some changes in the coming months and years.

There will be a new Government policy set in motion for this part of the National Park which will have repercussions for all of us.

Since the previous Prime Minister José Sócrates and Environment Minister Francisco Nunes Correia visted Vale da Telha six years ago—and invited Amovate officials to meet them over a lunch with various dignitaries from the Camara and other public bodies—we have kept open a dialogue with the authorities to make sure we were fully informed and kept in the loop over these plans.

Also, we are currently fighting to have high-speed fibre optic broadband delivered to Vale da Telha after the Park Authorities refused to allow the relay towers to be installed, despite the Government’s pledge to have the service rolled out to every home.

This meant the company providing the service to the Algarve simply by-passed Vale da Telha at the bottom of the hill and continued down towards Lagos, leaving all of us up here on with what one MEO employee described this week as “the worst broadband service on the Algarve”.

We wrote to the President of Portugal and the Prime Minister of Portugal some months ago voicing our outrage that the Park authorities overruled the Prime Minister’s office, and had replies from both saying they would pursue the matter.

Now, within the last week they have followed up those letters by again writing to Amovate to say the Prime Minister and the President’s offices had passed on the letters to the appropriate departments and told them to investigate.

As you can see, Amovate is constantly active on your behalf and that of the community.

Five years ago we launched a campaign to have electricity supplier EDP improve the service to Vale da Telha residents in the face of constant power outages—and soon saw an investment here by the company that greatly improved the service. But we will continue to press for a further improvement to eradicate the problem.

Remember, too, that we restored the lakeside walk, making it possible to complete the full circuit by bridging that notorious gap along the path.

We supplied wheelchairs and other equipment to Portimao Hospital’s orthopaedic unit, a laptop for a rehabilitation centre that had helped two of our residents, a pain-relieving ripple bed for another charity and many other donations to various charitable causes.

Amovate played a key role with Dr David Quinton in launching the drive for two state-of-the-art defibrillators to be placed with the Bombeiros and in the Hotel Vale da Telha for the use of residents, with dozens of volunteers being trained in CPR at Amovate Old School House HQ.

And, of course, we made headline news here in Portugal and in the UK by working with UK Fire Service charities to have €50,000 worth of fire fighting and rescue equipment shipped out to Aljezur Bombeiros at no cost to them.

Our “Amovate in the community” programme was launched to place various functions with local restaurants and bars to support them through the recession, and has been warmly received and backed by the community.

The Old School House is a hive of activity through the week with various classes and our tennis section is going from strength-to-strength, becoming self-sufficient to the point where a fair sum of money has been spent refurbishing the courts, the nets and the net posts.

As you may be aware Amovate have been making significant strides in the local area, from forging stronger links with the Camara to strengthening our relationships with local businesses and businessmen, some of whom joined the Committee.This has been due to them all realising that we need to keep our membership growing so we have an even louder voice in the community, which makes it more possible for us to get things done.

It is in the interests of us all to increase the levels of our membership numbers and retain that strength-through-numbers ethos that has raised our profile in the area.

To that effect we would like to ask all members and former members to please renew their €15 annual subscriptions and help us to continue making a difference to our Community.

And if you have never been a member, then please think about joining us and playing your part in making Vale da Telha and the surrounding areas an even better place to live.

You can do this by:

………clicking on the Membership form below, to download your form.  Alternatively, if you are unable to print the form, you can collect one from the Amovate office.  This can be handed in to the Amovate office with your €15.00 and your Membership Card will be ready for collection in a couple of days.

Alternatively, if you are an existing Member wishing to renew, simply drop in your old card and your €15.00 at the office, and your new Membership Card will be processed in a few days.

Thank you for your support.

MEMBERSHIP FORM

Surf Houses on Vale da Telha – Your Concerns

IMG_1154 (2)The West Coast of the Algarve is a surfers’ paradise—and over the last two or three years it’s not just the surf that has been up, but also the number of surf houses around Vale da Telha and the outlying districts.

All of us who live here are aware of the rapid growth of these establishments, with several villas sold over the past year or so being quickly turned into surf houses with an inordinately high number of occupants at busy times.

While we all understand that this is a tourist area and surf tourism is a vital component in that industry several members have approached Amovate to express their disquiet and concern over some problems that have followed the surfing community to Vale da Telha and the surrounding districts.

These members have asked us to speak with the Camara on their behalf and report the problems that they are experiencing; problems varying from noise pollution, traffic, parking congestion on the roads, and general untidiness—littering etc.

Several of the surf houses, as you know, have been established for some time and seem to be run quite well, taking care not to upset their neighbours and blending in with the community.

But there are, of course others which are creating problems and becoming a public nuisance with activities that do not befit their use among residential properties.

It is certainly not clear whether these surf properties benefit from an AL (Licença de Utilização Turística), or are suitable for such use, or even that the Camara are aware of their existence, the implicit suggestion being that some may be unlicensed and not possessing the necessary permits or achieving the standards required of such establishments by the authorities.

Amovate has now had a meeting with the Camara to discuss these concerns from our members, and the Camara have informed us that they are aware of some of the problems.

However, they stressed that to ensure they have a complete picture, anyone with such issues to raise should make direct contact to the appropriate organisations in order to lodge their individual complaints.

These organisations waiting to hear from you are the Camara itself, *ASAE (Autoride de Seguranca Alimentar e Economica), the GNR, the Bomberios and the Financas.

Some have websites through which you can lodge a complaint, otherwise your issues, identifying the specific surf house and the reasons for your concern, should be sent by letter or e-mail.

The GNR assure us they will act upon notification of noise, and in extreme situations will issue a notice to the perpetrator, who could be fined.

*ASAE – Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica 

Address: Av. Conde de Valbom, 98
Postal Code: 1069-185 Lisboa, Portugal

New Driving Laws in Portugal

From the Algarve Daily News:

RoundaboutMore than 60 amendments to Portugal’s Road Traffic Act came into force on New Year’s Day, including the lowering of the alcohol limit for professional drivers and drivers who recently have passed their test, new rules for cyclists and new rules for the nation’s multitude of beautifully constructed roundabouts.

The Highway Code now provides for the creation of ‘residential areas of coexistence,’ ie where man and machine operate in perfect harmony with specific rules for traffic such as speed limits reduced to a gentle 20kmph.

There is an important paperwork change – Portuguese identification cards now are needed if the driver does not have the new citizen card. It is hoped that foreign drivers will be OK with a passport as non-Portuguese citizens are neither entitled to an ID card nor a citizen’s card. Many expats do not have fiscal cards but should carry the paper document, free from Finanças, with their fiscal number on it.

The law that fiscal numbers must be produced when asked is to enable authorities to check if a driver is in debt with the taxman. Failure to present the card will result in a fine of €30. Whether this is to be challenged by the over-burdened Constitutional Court or not remains to be seen but the increase in spying into citizens’ financial affairs by the traffic police will do nothing to improve the pact between state and citizen.

There is an important change at roundabouts. The only road users that can use the right-hand lane at a roundabout are those that are taking the first exit. Everyone else must use the inner lane i.e. if going straight ahead or turning left. The fine if you get this new maneuver wrong is between €60 and €300 and over the next few weeks the GNR are likely to be perched at their favourite roundabouts, waiting….

Annoyingly, different sources of information have different interpretations of this new rule with some suggesting that the right hand lane is for both the first and second exits. More clarification will be needed so in the meantime stick to the IMTT’s interpretation, right hand lane – first right only.

The new code reduces the alcohol level permitted to 0.2 grammes per litre of blood for drivers on probation i.e. those that have held a full license for less than 3 years, and for drivers of rescue service vehicles, taxi drivers and commercial drivers of vans and trucks.

In the event of an accident, in addition to the mandatory test for alcohol blood level, there now will be screening for drug use using rather accurate test kits.

Cyclists gain new rights with new rules giving them equal rights to vehicles in many cases.

The police are required to inform any driver fined more than €200 that he or she can pay the fine in installments of €50 or more, over a period not exceeding 12 months.

Mobile phone and i-Pod headphones with two earpieces are banned but those with a single earpiece are still allowable. No, you can’t say you were only using one of the earpieces as double earpieces are banned totally.